The Way Out

When The Way Out was first published in 2021, the partisan divide in the United States had widened to a chasm. Five years later, the crisis has metastasized. Political polarization continues to be personal but has also become more entrenched structurally. Today, our political, media, and digital systems reward outrage, punish moderation, and elevate those who escalate conflict. If we want a less contemptuous politics, we must come together across our differences to redesign the incentive systems that manufacture disdain. How can we loosen the grip of this toxic form of polarization and start redirecting our energies toward our most pressing problems?

The Way Out offers an escape from this morass. The social psychologist Peter T. Coleman explores how conflict resolution and complexity science provide guidance for dealing with seemingly intractable political differences, explaining the unexpected ways that deeply rooted oppositions can and do change. Coleman meticulously details principles and practices for navigating and healing the difficult divides in our homes, workplaces, and communities, blending compelling personal accounts from his years of working on entrenched conflicts with lessons from leading-edge research. The Way Out is a vital and timely guide to breaking free from the cycle of mutual contempt in order to better our lives, relationships, and country.

This updated edition includes practical plans and exercises for changing individual, social, and systemic practices. Coleman explores lessons learned since the first edition, considering how to transform the institutions that entrench conflict and find sustainable ways to live together.

Peter T. Coleman is professor of psychology and education at Columbia University, where he holds a joint appointment at Teachers College and the Climate School and directs two research centers. His books include Making Conflict Work: Harnessing the Power of Disagreement (2014) and The Five Percent: Finding Solutions to Seemingly Impossible Conflicts (2011).